Load-retaining device.



E. A. THOMPSON.

LOAD RETAINING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1908.

Patented July 20, 1909.

UNITED S ELISHA A. THOMPSON, OF HIRAM, ARKANSAS;

LOAD-RETAININ G DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1909.-

Application filed June 29, 1908. Serial No. 440,949.

' 11;; all whom it may concern:

Hiram, in the county of Cleburne and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in hard-Retaining Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying d ra\ vings.

lhis invention relates to improvements in vehicles and more particularly to a bolster attachment for a wagon which will permit loads of logs, lumber and, the like to be etlectively carried.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily applied to and removed from a wagon bolster and which may be quickly and conveniently adjusted for supporting loads of dilterent sizes.

Another object of the invention to provide improved stakes or stop members for a wagon or similar vehicle, which may be quickly and easily :uljusted toward and from each other.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the pre ferred embodiment of the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal and transverse sec tional views through the same showing it applied to a wagon or vehicle bolster; and Fig. 4: is a detail view of one of the stop members or stakes.

While the invention may be built into or form a permanent part of the floor of a wagon, car or similar vehicle or be built into one of the bolsters or cross beams of the same, the preferred embodiment illustrated in thedrawings is in the form of an attachment for ready application to and removal from the bolster of an ordinary wagon. It comprises a channeled body 1 adapted to fit over the top of the bolster B and to be secured thereon by belts or other removable fastenings 2. As shown, the body 1 is sub stantially U-shaped in cross section having a top 3 and depending side flanges 4, the latter being formed with .alined transverse openings 5 to receive the fastening bolts 2 which also pass through the bolster.

Upon the top 3 of the body are nmunted two or more adjustable stop members or knuckles 6 which serve the purpose of ordi nary wagon stakes or standards, namely, to retain a load upon the wagon. YVhile these slop members ti may be of any suitable form and construction they are here shown as horizontal metal plates each having its outer end bent up to provide a stop portion 7 its other or inner end provided with oppositely projecting pivot lugs 8 and its intermediate portion provided with a locking pin or stud 9 which depends from its bottom. In the top 3 of the body 1, which latter is preferably, bnt not necessarily, madc'i'rom metal and in a single piece, is formed a channel or recess 10 which extends longitudinally from end to end and is adapted to receive the horizontal portions of the stop members (3. The latter are slidably and pivotally mounted in this channel or guideway 10 by undercutting or grooving the side walls of said channel, as shown at 11, so as to receive the pivot lugs 8. These pivot lugs are adapted to slide as well as rotate in the grooves ll so that the stop members will be permitted to have free longitudinal sliding movement and vertical swinging movement upon the body but will be at the same time effectively connected thereto. In the bottom of the channel or guideway 10 are formed longitudinal series of openings or seats 12 adapted to receive the locking pin 9 upon the stop members when they are dropped down into the channel 10 to a horizontal position. Seats 12 are formed adjacent to the ends of the body and any number of them may be provided so that the stop members may be locked at any distance from each other and from the ends of the body.

While the body 1 is here shown in the form of an attachment for application to a vehicle bolster it will be understood that when made of sutlieient size it may be used as the bolster itself, in which case, its top is formed with a centrally arranged pivot opening 13 to receive the king bolt, in the fiVlllllt the bolster is used above the front ax e.

In using the invent-ion, it will be seen that into the channels 10 so that their pins 9 enter the seats 12. As above stated, said stop members may be of any suitable form and construction which will permit them to effectively retain a particular kind of load upon the wagon, car or other vehicle, but for logging purposes they are preferably constructed as illustrated and with the comparatively short upright stop portions 7 in order that the logs may be rolled over them and thrown off of the wagon, thereby rendering it unnecessary to remove the stop members from the body or bolster in the operation of unloading the wagon or vehicle.

Vhile the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described in detail, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction and application set forth and that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

The herein described bolster attachment comprising a one piece body formed in its bottom with a longitudinal channel to receive the bolster, the side walls of said chan- 6 adapted to swing into and out of said guide channel and to slide longitudinally therein, said plates being adapted to lie entirely within said guide channel when resting upon the bottom of the same and having their outer ends bent upwardly and inwardly to provide the stop hooks, oppositely projecting pivot studs upon the inner ends of said plates and slidably and rotatably mounted in said grooves and the studs 9 depending from the intermediate portions of the flat plates 6 and adapted to drop in any one of said holes in the bottom of the guide channel when said stop plates are lowered into the latter.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELISHA A. THOMPSON. lVitnesses HARRY CHURCHILL, G. C. NELSON. 

